Well washing device



Aug. 27,I l940 P. w. APPLEBY WELL WASHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A118 27, l940- P. w. APPLEBY 2,212,491

WELL WASHING DEVICE n Filed Aug. 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i, Patented Aug. 27,4 1940 UNITED ASTATES 'PATENT OFFICE WELL WASHING DEVICE l Peter W. Appleby. Odessa.' Tex- Application August 29,

15 Claims.

Y lo the springs usually associated therewith, they become inoperative and impractical for use in a conduit system through which thel foreign matter and debris must pass in being discharged from the well.

The object of this invention is to provide for the washing of the walls of the well and theremoval of the washing device without the removal of the tubing from the well, whereby the washing unit may be introduced in the tubing while it is in the well to accomplish the washing action and then removed therefrom readily and simply without removing the tubing.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the well washing device, to render it free of complicated mechanism, simple in construction and operationgand capable of relatively low cost of manufacture.

In carrying out these objects, the invention utilizes a well washing tool adapted to be intro-- duced into the upper end of the drill stem or tubing to be forced downward thereinto the lower portion of the well in such position as to provide for the radial discharge of the washing iiuid outwardly against the walls of thewell to 5 wash the debris therefrom. Provision is made in the tool for its removal automatically at the completion of the washing operation by the introduction of fluid pressure from a point exterior to and below the tool, causing the latter to be moved upward in and discharged from the drill stem or tubing.

These features are embodied in a preferred form of the invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: l

Fig. l is a side elevation of a rotary drilling unit in position in a well, parts being in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion of the drilling apparatus, with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionalview through the tool; l

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the tool; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through 1939, Serial No. 292,524

(Cl. Z55-'11) the drill collar and tool, on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2'.

The invention is shown in connection with rotary drilling apparatus of more or less conventional forml shown as used in a well designated generally by the numeral l. The drilling appal ratus utilizes a drill stem or tubing 2 operatively connected with a rotary table 3 of a conventional rotary rig. The rotary table 3 is designed for rotating the tubing 2 to accomplish the drilling action, for which purpose the tubing 2 carries the drill bit 4 on the lower end thereof through the medium of a drill collar 5. The drill bit l is provided with cutting teeth of the usual character and has openings 6 laterallythereof for the discharge of uid that is forced downward through the drill stem 2 from a conduit 'I connected with the upper end thereof during the drilling operation.

The drill stem 2 operates in a casing 8 which lines the well l to a point spaced above the lower end thereof and which casing 8 is closed at its upper end around thedrill stem 2 by means of a packing gland 9 of conventional' construction. A pipe l is shown as connected with one side of the packing gland 9 for the discharge of fluid from the well or for thel introduction of fluid around the drill stem wfithin the casing.

Normally the drilling operation progresses in the well by the rotation of the drill stem 2 and its drill bit 4 which are fed downward in the casing 8. During the drilling operation, it is frequently desirable to wash down debris from the side walls of the well, and heretofore this has usually required the pulling of the drill stem from the well to introduce the washing device thereto, but this invention has provision for the introduction of a washing unit into the dr'ill stern to accomplish the washing action without the removal of the drill stem from the well, and thereafter the washing unit may be removed.

For this purpose, I utilize a tubular `tool designated generally by the numeral il) which is substantiallyl elongated and preferably has a closed lower end but is provided with lateral openings l I in opposite sides thereof. The tool l is adapted to be introduced into a passageway I2 through the upper portion of the drill bit l that communicates with the drill collar and drill stem 2 thereabove. The sides of the tool l0 are provided with substantially spiral or longitudinal curved ribs I3- on opposite sides thereof, the upper ends of which ribs are brought relatively close together to form a guideway Il, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 to receive therebetween a pin l5 projecting inward from each opposite side of the axial bore I2 in the drill bit 5.

The upper end portion of the tool I is provided withy a surrounding piston or packing designated generally by the numeral IB which may be of any suitable construction designed to ilt closely within the bore Il oi the drill collar 5. In the form shown, this packing structure I6 is formed by opposed packing cups It surrounding the upper end portion oi' the tool I and is held in place by locking rings I8 threaded thereon. To guide the tool Ill into the bores of the drill collar and drill bit 4, the upper end of the bore I'I is beveled ofi' or flared at 30, which tends to compress the packing rings IB, or other packing means to provide a fluid tight lit of the piston structure I8 within the bore II of the drill collar.

The upper end portion of the tool It is provided with a downwardly opening check-valve 2l pivotally mounted within the tool in position to close against a stop pin 22 which limits the closing movement of the check-valve.

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to wash the walls of the well, a suitable washing iluidpreferably oil, may be used -for the purpose. The tool I0 is first introduced into the upper end of the drill stem 2 and dropped through the drill stem where it continues downward until its lower end passes through the bore I2 in the drill bit 4, substantially in the position shown in Fig. 2. Its downward travel will be cushioned when it nears its lower position by the compressing means IB, so that the lower end of the tool I0 will not strikev the cutters of the drill bit with sumcient force to cause damage thereto. 'I'he curved ribs I3 and trackway I4 will coact with the pins I5 to turn the ltool I0 to its proper position for registry of the openings II with the openings 6 in the drill bit for the proper lateral discharge of fluid therethrough.

After the tool /Ill is in place in the lower portion of the drilling apparatus, the cleaning uid is pumped downward through the drill stem from .the conduit stem 1, and it will be directed through the tool I0 and discharged through the openings II thereof and laterally through the openings 6 in the drill bit, against the side walls of the well, substantially as illustrated in Fig. l. This may continue until the desired washing action has been accomplished.

Thereafter, the pumping of fluid downward through the casing 8 from the pipe l will create suicient pressure in the bottom of the Well toforce iiuid upward through the bore I2 inthe drill bit and the bore I'I in the drill collar 5 to act against the under side of the packing I6, whichwill force the tool I0 upward in the drill stem for removal in the upper part thereof, if desired. During this action, the fluid pressure in the tool I0 causes the check-valve 2| to close against the pin 22 to prevent the leakage of fiuid therethrough and to direct the full force of the fluid against the packing I6.

lclaim:

l. In a well drilling unit, the combination of a string of pipe having a lateral discharge opening in the lower portion thereof, a tool in said string of pipe adapted to be dropped down from the upper end thereof to the lower end portion thereof inl the well and having a passageway therethrough 'with a lateral opening in position to register with the opening in the string of pipe and to direct fluid therethrough against the side wall of the well, and means for applying uid presa,a1a,4e1 v sure to said tool to eject the same from said string l of pipe.

2. In a well drilling unit, the combination of a string of pipe having a lateral discharge opening at the lower portion thereof, a tool slidably mounted in the string of pipe for introduction thereto and having a passageway therein with a lateral discharge opening in position for communlcation' with the opening in the string of pipe and to direct fluid therethrough against the side wall of the well, means for directing fluid through the passageway in the tool for lateral discharge, and means vfor applying pressure 'to the under portion of the tool for electing the same from the string of pipe.

3. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination of a string of pipe having a drill bit on the lower end portion thereof, a tool slidably mounted in the string of pipe adapted to be dropped down from the upper end thereof to the lower end portion thereof in the well and having a passageway therein with a lateral discharge opening above the cutting edges of the drill bit in the lower position thereof in position to direct fluid laterally of the string of pipe against the side wall of the well, and means for forcing fluid downwardly through the tool for lateral discharge.

4. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination of a string of pipe having a drill bit on the lower end portion thereof, said drill bit having cutting elements, a tool slidably mounted in the string of pipe adaptedv to be dropped down from the upper end thereof to the lower end portion thereof in the well and having a passageway. therein with a lateral discharge opening above the cutting elements in the lower position thereof in position to direct' fluid laterally of the string of pipe, means for forcing fluid downwardly through the tool for lateral discharge, and a packing surroundingthe tool between the same and the string of pipe.

5. In a well drilling apparatus, the combination of a string of pipe having a drill bit on the lower end portion thereof, a tool slidably mounted in the string of pipe and having a passageway therein with a lateral discharge opening in position to direct iiuid laterally of the string of pipe, means for forcing iluid downwardly through the tool for lateral discharge, a packing surrounding the tool between the same and the string of pipe, a check-valve within the tool passageway to close the same against upward movement of iiuid therethrough, and means for directing fluid uption of a string of pipe having a drilllbit on the lower end portion thereof, a tool slidably mounted in the string of pipe and having a passageway therein with a lateral discharge opening in position to direct fluid laterally of the string of pipe, means for forcing iluld downwardly through the tool for lateral discharge, said tool havingk a -guideway on the periphery thereof, and means in position to engage in said guideway for turning vided with a discharge opening arranged to direct liquid laterally against the side walls of the well, means for forcing liquid downwardly through the passageway for discharge, and means for applying uid pressure to the under side vof the tool to eject the same from the tubular structure.

9. A well washing tool adapted to be introduced into a pipe in a'well, comprising a tubular body having one or more lateral discharge open' ings in the lower portion thereof arranged approximately at right angles to the axis of the body, an external packing structure about the body above said dischargel openings4 adapted to seal the opening in the pipe and cause the fluid tobe directed through the tool, and. kmeans for closing the passageway through the body from below whereby the tool may be ejected from the pipe in the well by fluid pressure from below.

10. A well washing tool adapted to be introduced into a pipe in a well, comprising va tubular body having one or more lateral discharge open- Vings in the periphery thereof arranged at an angle to the axis of the body in position to direct fluid therefrom against the side walls of the well, sealing means on the body above the one or more openings adapted to seal the opening in the pipe and cause the uid to be directed through the tool, and means for closing the passageway through the body from below whereby the tool may be ejected from the pipe in the well by fluid pressure from below.

1l. In a well washing device, the combination of a tubular structure adapted to be introduced into a well, and a tool slidably mounted in the tubular structure and adapted to be dropped from the upper portion thereof to the lower portion thereof in the well and having a passageway therein provided with a discharge opening ar-l ranged to direct Washing uidlaterally against the side-wall of the well, and means for ejecting the tool by fluid pressure from below from said lower position to the upper position in the tubular structure.

l2. In a well washing device, the combination of a string of pipe, and a tool slidably mounted therein and adapted to be dropped from the upper portion thereof to the lower portion thereof in the well and having a passageway therein pro- -Vided with-a' discharge opening below the string of pipe arranged for discharge of washing fluid toward the side wall of the well, and. means for ejecting the tool by uid pressure from below from said lower position to the upper position in string of pipe arranged for discharge of washing uid substantially in a horizontal direction to.- ward the side hwall of the well, and means for ejecting the tool by -uid pressure from below from said lower position to the upper' 'position in the p ipe.-

14. In a well washing device, the combination of ,a string of :pipe including a drill bit having said string of pipe adapted to be dropped from the upper portion thereof to the-1ower portion thereof in the well and having a passageway therein provided with a lateral discharge opening above the cutting elements in the lower p'osition thereof and arranged. for dischargeof washing fluid laterally against the side wall of the well.

15. In awell washing device, the combination v of a string of pipe including a drill bit, said drill vbit having cutters thereon, and a tool slidably PETER W. APPLEBY. 

